Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/30/2013

Gov. Rick Scott wants $1.2 billion more for public schools

Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday he will ask the Legislature to increase funding for public schools by $1.2 billion next year. Speaking to the annual AP news forum in Tallahassee, Scott presented a case that Florida's economy has steadily improved under his direction and that now is the time to "strategically invest" in public education.

THIS JUST IN:

Enterprise Florida, the state’s principal economic development organization, will unveil Florida’s first branding initiative aimed at marketing the state nationally and internationally as a business destination. The announcement will come after Enterprise Florida’s board meeting tomorrow afternoon in Tallahassee. Gov. Rick Scott and Enterprise Florida President and CEO Gray Swoope will be on hand for the announcement.

The bankruptcy court battle for control of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos snack cakes is not over, a Sarasota-based private-equity firm contends. Hurst Capital maintains it is still in the hunt to acquire the brands, despite a Wall Street Journal report Tuesday that said Hostess Brands "is nearing a deal" to sell the Twinkies brand. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Owners of Bal Harbour Shops become partner in Brickell CityCentre

Bal Harbour Shops has decided the best defense may be a good offense. After years of fighting the expansion of luxury retail in Miami-Dade, the owners of Bal Harbour Shops have done an about-face and decided to help fuel the growth. More at the Miami Herald.

Take a coffee break with an entrepreneur

Business Profile

Great Southeast Flooring America

The names Nelson and Karen Green may not ring a bell, but how about their alter egos, Captain Flooring America and Miss Measure? Or their pint-sized partner, Lois Price? These colorful characters can be found in advertising for Great Southeast Flooring America, a locally owned store.

Want to start a business? Or pursue a new career? Take a coffee break with an entrepreneur to get advice. Mentors from the Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center at Florida International University in Miami will be available for 15 to 20 minute sessions at several "coffee break" events in the coming months. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Orlando ranks seventh in megachurch cities

The California-based Barna Group has ranked cities according to megachurch membership and Orlando comes out seventh with 18 percent of self-identified Christians attending a church with 1,000 members or more. Las Vegas topped the list with 29 percent attending large churches. More at the Orlando Sentinel.

Out of the Box From chicken wings and fries to powering county trucks

The aroma of fried food that wafts on the breeze at a section of the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center doesn't come from someone's lunch. It's a hard-to-ignore indicator of how the county is addressing an environmental problem while saving the taxpayers money. It is the smell of used cooking oil that is being turned into biodiesel fuel.